It's A Big World Out There (And I Am Scared)

Kurt Vile

Amoeba Review

11/16/2013

Kurt Vile’s Wakin on a Pretty Daze has been one of the highlights of rock releases this year, seeming to float on effortlessly gorgeous stoner-country tunes and atmospherics. But Vile is nothing if not prolific, so he’s issued a brand new EP recorded mostly at the same time as the album. We get alternate versions of album cuts “Never Run Away,” “Snowflakes Are Dancing” and “Air Bud,” recorded with Vile’s backing band, the Violators, plus a couple of new ones, like “Feel My Pain,” which finds Vile a little more pensive and emotional than usual, moving along a lo-fi beat, with intricate acoustic guitarwork. For those who loved the album, or for Vile completists, this EP offers new dimensions to some of Pretty Daze’s highlights, and it’s a great way to revisit the album as the year ends. For those who are new to Vile or this album, Vile’s giving you a new reason to pick it up, and pick it up you should, as it’s one of the year’s best. Get it and mellow out on Kurt Vile’s somber vibes—perfect for curing those holiday woes!